15 . JOHNUARY

[necrolord]

Who: John Gaius and company.
What: All around him, John's friends and loved ones begin to shed their skins. Also: Riteoir.
When: January
Where: Gaze and the new city.

Content Warnings: Tagged in headers as needed. Note all the usual warnings of this character.

Comments

[necrolord]

Soulkin, huh? Snappier than 'entities composed of spirit magic,' which is what I think our textbooks are going for, these days.

[ He politely pretends not to notice the distaste, but does not politely stop talking about dead things. You can only get necromancers so far off their craft. Everyone knows it. ]

You could bind a soul to crystal, where I come from, but it'd be a rough deal for the soul. Not much to do when you have crystal for a body, is there? Not when you're used to eyes and ears and hands. It's why I'm so interested in the squid thing, here in town... it's like we take the shape we expect to keep. The memory of the person, inside a squid.

[aetherweaver]

Not really, no. I've seen someone be possessed by the memory of someone else... I haven't had that happen to me, though.

[That was a very weird case with a very weird Black Mage. Thankfully it seems to be resolved these days, but oof.]

Well, where I'm from memory is also made of aether. It's not inconceivable that it could have a powerful effect on the body, if the squid bodies are naturally unstable.

[necrolord]

[ He tips his head in thought and easy acknowledgment, at that. ]

I'd be interested to hear the nitty-gritty of how aether works, or is thought to work, one of these days... If you're interested in talking.

[ He splays his hands like appeasement, like no pressure. Both of them are aware of why half of town wouldn't be thrilled to work with him. ]

I'm getting back into the research game. No natural disasters on the agenda.

[aetherweaver]

I wouldn't mind sharing. Most of what I know is common knowledge. It's the particulars of how the star - the planet is that is less well-known. It was shattered at one point... but that's a long story.

[Oh, he's aware. He's wary of John, but not afraid. Sure, maybe the other could kill him if he wanted to, but Nara'a's survived worse people than Jod. At least as far as he's aware - he really doesn't know the full story and he knows it.]

Research is always worth it, in my opinion. I did my own when I was young - managed to burn my eyebrows clean off in the process.

[He chuckles and waggles his eyebrows.]

And good. It's a pain to swim in an ocean that's pitching a fit, ability to breathe underwater or no.

[necrolord]

[ The planet was shattered is the kind of thing to catch his attention and keep it: John looks openly baffled, and interested with it. Still, he drops his hands and quirks a wry smile in answer to that laugh. ]

Sounds like a plan. You don't want to hear about the necromantic equivalent of burned eyebrows.

[aetherweaver]

Probably not. I'm no chirurgeon, but it's got to involve body fluids. I'm guessing, at least.

[No! Thank! You!]